Valve for organ-bellows



(No Model.)

F. STONE.

Valve far Organ Bellows.

No. 236,275. Patented Jan. 4,1881.

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EIERS. PKm'c-um GRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C

UNiTEn STATES PATENT @EEroE.

FRANK STONE, OF \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE FOR ORGAN-BELLOWS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,275, dated January 4, 1881.

Application filed September 28, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK STONE, 0f Worcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, ha\ e invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Devices for Urgans, Orguinettes, and Similar W'ind Musical Instruments; and I declare the following to be a description of my said invention sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The ordinary valves employed on the bellows or exhausters of organs, orguinettes, and similar musical instruments, consisting of a strip of soft flexible leather or similar material extended or strained across the air-passages, with its ends tacked or secured to the board, usually, after a short time, become stretched or elongated by use and atmospheric changes, so that they will sag or fall away from their seats to such an extent that they do not act promptly with the movement of the exhauster, or, perhaps, will buckle or wrinkle on closing, leaking air or blubbering, and thus in various ways interfering with the proper action and tone of the instrument. Especially is this the case in small orguinettes, in which the bellows and exhausters are comparatively small and have light draft power, and in which it is of importance that the valves should be instantaneous in their action, close-fitting on their seats, and of a light pliable material to operate in a satisfactory manner.

The objects of my present invention are to obviate the above-named objections and to provide a valve for said instruments which will not be subject to derangement by atmospheric changes or long continued use; to furnish means whereby the valve is confined or limited in its movement from its seat, so as to be instantaneous in its return action, and to make a valve device light, durable, and efficient, and practically adapted for small as well as large exhausters. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional view of an organ bellows and exhauster, showing longitudinal sections of my improved valve devices. Fig. 2

(No model.)

' is a bottom view of oneof my improved valve devices. Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing a modification in construction. Fig. 4 is a transverse section at line x 00, the valve being open; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section at line y y, the valve being closed.

The letter A indicates the windchest, into which the air is drawn through the sounding devices or reeds, which are not herein shown, arranged in any ordinary or suitable manner.

B indicates the expansion bellows, and C the exhauster or feeder, constructed and operated as usual for the various styles ofinstruments.

(1, b, and c are the ordinary air-passages. The index at 0 denotes the direction of the current.

D denotes the pneumatic valve, formed of soft pliable leather or similar flexible material laid over the airpassages and secured by a tack, d, or other fastening at one end only, its other end being left free and unattached, so that the material can expand or contract at will without affecting its parallel relation to the valve seat or board E, or without increasing or diminishing its tension.

F indicates a guard, preferably formed of woven wire-gauze or perforated thin sheet metal, although other suitable material may be used, if desired. Said guard F is arranged to embrace the valve D in such a manner that it will, while permitting a free circulation of air, support and hold said valve D parallel with and in close proximity to its seat E, leaving only a limited space for the movement of the valve, butsufticient for its opening and closing action, and within which space the valve is entirely free to follow the pneumatic pressure. The central part of the guard F is made flat and stands parallel with and at a short distance from the valve seat or board E. Along its sides are offsets, as at f, to give the proper elevation, while its edges F rest upon the seatboard E, to which they are secured by tacks e, or otherwise, as illustrated.

Fig. 3 shows the guard, formed of sheet metal, the plate being made with scallops along the sides for the passage of air, and perforations along its center to prevent concussion or suction of the valve against the plate. This modification may be desirable in some cases in preference to a finely-perforated guard or a guard of Wire-gauze.

Among the advantages incident to my in.- vention may be mentioned the instantaneous action of the valve by the slightest change in direction of pressure, and the action of the entire length of the valve at the same instant. The valves can be of very light flexible or pliable material, which Works easily and quietly and fits closely down upon the seats by the pneumatic pressure. The valve is not liable to wrinkle or buckle in action, is not deranged by expansion or contraction, and is simple and efiicient for light or small instruments, and, when once adjusted, will last for an indefinite period without attention or repairs.

What I claim as of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pertorated guard device for confining and limiting the movement of a flexible pneumatic valve, applied to the bellows or exhaust-- ers of pipe or reed musical instruments, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the bellows or exhauster in an organ, orguinette, or similar Wind-instrument, of a flexible air-valve, D, secured at one end only to admit of its free expansion, and a perforated snpportingguard, F, for confining and restricting the throw thereof, substantially as described.

3. The guard plate F, having fiat central portion, with ofisets ff and bearing-edges F, in combination with the seat-board E in a musical-instrument bellows 0r exhauster, and the flexible valve strip D, secured by a single fastening, d, and arranged for operation as shown and described.

Witness my hand this 23d day of September, A. D. 1880.

FRANK STONE.

\VitnesseS:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, GEO. M. REED. 

